Can anyone point me in the direction of a good Donegal suiting cloth? Looking for a light gray or maybe light brown. Are all Donegals for suits worsted or do they also come in woolen? Is P&H Thornproof just for jackets?

What's in the W. Bill books is all hand-loomed single-width stuff that would make terrible trousers. T4 swears to me that there are some hand-mades that can work as trousers but I have never seen them.

The Scabal and H&S suiting donegals are machine loomed, and they look very "regular" compared to the hand loomed, also the dot pattern is a lot smaller.

The Scabal and H&S suiting donegals are machine loomed, and they look very "regular" compared to the hand loomed, also the dot pattern is a lot smaller.

I looked through these books last time and recall having this impression. The "grain" was finer, more even and less pronounced than I'd hoped. And none of the colors were in the lighter family I wanted. But, I might go for it anyhow. Maybe more of a mid-gray.

I have to stick with what the tailor carries, but I think they have all the Harrisons, H&S, Scabal, Minnis and Hardy books. I think they can get Porter Harding, too. I just wondered out of these which would work best for a suit.

I looked through these books last time and recall having this impression. The "grain" was finer, more even and less pronounced than I'd hoped. And none of the colors were in the lighter family I wanted. But, I might go for it anyhow. Maybe more of a mid-gray. I have to stick with what the tailor carries, but I think they have all the Harrisons, H&S, Scabal, Minnis and Hardy books. I think they can get Porter Harding, too. I just wondered out of these which would work best for a suit.

The Porter and Harding Donegals come in two wights and are specially set (woven) for suits. W. Bill makes (made?) a Donegal book that is quite "hairy" but not suitable for suits

I looked through these books last time and recall having this impression. The "grain" was finer, more even and less pronounced than I'd hoped. And none of the colors were in the lighter family I wanted. But, I might go for it anyhow. Maybe more of a mid-gray.

I have to stick with what the tailor carries, but I think they have all the Harrisons, H&S, Scabal, Minnis and Hardy books. I think they can get Porter Harding, too. I just wondered out of these which would work best for a suit.

I can't comment on the P&H tweeds (mine are all stacked back in my closet in unfinished condition) but I second the idea of going with Scabal's offerings. As has already been said, their stuff is not as rough and sporty as others but can hold a trouser crease quite well.

So, I checked out the Scabal, P&H and W. Bill swatches yesterday. The tailor said any could be made into a suit including the W. Bill stuff, which I really liked. Nice and chunky (I think it's 13+ oz) and it has the color I am after: light gray (which is really black/white with colored flecks). So, I might go with that. Haven't placed the order yet, though. Would anyone still advise against this in a suit (trousers)?

Side question: Which pocket configuration would you choose for a Donegal suit?
ps. I might want to wear the jacket as a separate once in a while.